Due to the complexity of PGC-1a regulation and the range of molecular events that occurs during sepsis, the identification of a basic mechanism for the later expression of PGC-1a and NRF-1 will be challenging, but our current data do suggest that mtDNA repair and mitochondrial biogenesis are induced before the detection of loss of renal function by usual BUN/Cr measurements and likely represent kidney cell pro-survival mechanisms during severe sepsis. The gene discussed is NRF1; the disease is Sepsis.